Dawson's Hut 



After seeing what stores we left in Dawson's hut 

 hung by cords from the roof to prevent their 

 being attacked by mice, plenty of which seemed 

 to be living in the hut, we shouldered our packs 

 and started for Moose Camp, which Hunter said 

 was about eight miles distant. The way at first 

 was directly uphill a sharp incline for half a 

 mile. This was a bit trying for a commencement, 

 but it was better than if we had to negotiate 

 the climb at the end of the march. Hunter led 

 the way, for he alone knew the trail. He had 

 blazed a path the previous year, but we found 

 that the axe-marks were often hard to pick up, 

 having become obliterated. We therefore re- 

 blazed the trail as we proceeded. This is accom- 

 plished in the following manner : A point is 

 taken that you can make for, and as you pass 

 various trees on the journey you hack off a slice 

 of bark from each, pointing to the way you have 

 come from ; whilst on the other side of the tree 

 you slice off another lump in the direction you 

 propose to take. If the trail turns to the right 

 hand, the slice is taken from off that side of the 

 tree ; the same with the left-hand or straight 

 ahead. The only difference to be observed is 

 when you leave a wooded country and have to 

 cross an open space. Where you leave the woods 

 you make several blazes on surrounding trees, 

 doing the same on re-entering the woods farther 

 on, as they are thus more easily seen. Another 



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